UMS Ready for Discussion, But Reducing Number of Regions Not Enough for Reform

Bratislava, 23 May (TASR) - The Slovak Towns Union (UMS) is ready for a discussion on public administration reform, but it insists that this must start with the biggest systemic weaknesses, TASR learnt on Friday. UMS sees Prime Minister Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) statements about reducing the number of local authorities, MPs and self-governing regions as a signal that the state is becoming aware of the need to consolidate itself first, not with local authorities. However, reducing the number of municipalities and self-governing regions is not enough to reform public administration. According to UMS head Richard Rybnicek, the key condition for public administration reform is a clear political assignment from the government, without which the efforts of local authorities will remain only a well-intentioned proposal. "We're ready. We have proposals. We've sent them to all political parties. But so far no one has had the courage to actually raise them. A reform that doesn't know whether it wants to be two-tier or three-tier will remain an academic debate. And we already have enough of that in Slovakia," stated Rybnicek. The union is convinced that until reform is undertaken where the greatest systemic weaknesses are, i.e. in small municipalities and dysfunctional self-governing regions, towns will continue to pay for what the state isn't able to manage. The union will therefore only support solutions that strengthen the decision-making powers of towns and increase their revenues, as without this the effects of the changes won't be reflected in the quality of life of the population. "We welcome the premier's willingness to start talking about public administration reform. But the real reform won't start with popular statements regarding Parliament, but with a clear assignment for experts and local authorities," pointed out Rybnicek, adding that the state has no vision in this regard, and if it has one, it isn't public, clear and calculated. Following a meeting with Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer-SD) on Wednesday (21 May), the prime minister stated that the strongest governing party is ready to save significantly on the state in further consolidation. This could include, for example, a significant reduction in the number of civil servants, but also in the number of local authorities or the number of MPs, while tightening the conditions for parties to enter Parliament, said Fico. However, he doubts that these changes will be agreed to by other coalition and opposition politicians, whom he expects to provide responses to his proposals. am/df